Nicolas Prost

Nicolas Prost is a French racing driver who most recently competed in the FIA Formula E Championship with Renault e.dams, spending four seasons with the team. He won three races and finished best in the third place in season 2015-2016.

Previously in a career, Prost competed in various single-seater series, but also in the ice racing, becoming a two-time champion of Trophee Andros Electrique. He also spent eight seasons with Rebellion Racing in the Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship, finishing best in the third place in LMP2 class in 2017.

Alain Prost and Nico Prost

Late racing debut for the son of four-time F1 champion

Nicolas Prost was born on August 18, 1981, in Saint-Chamond in central France. His father Alain Prost debuted in the Formula One in 1980 and later became the four-time world  champion. Despite being a son of the F1 world champion, Nicolas wasn't involved in motorsport until the age 22, when he entered the French Formula Renault Campus. He finished 10th in the points in his debut season.

In 2004, he continued to compete in the Formula Renault 2.0 but also entered two rounds of the French GT Championship, driving the Chrysler Viper GTS-R for MTO Mirabeau Competition. He didn't score any win or podium during 2004.

First podiums in the French GT championship

The similar situation repeated in 2005, when Nicolas participated in the full season of the French Formula Renault 2.0, still without wins and podiums. He also took part in some rounds of the FR2.0 Eurocup and one round of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. He reached the podium in two races of the French GT Championship, at Le Mans and Magny-Cours, driving Chrysler Viper GTS-R for Exagon Engineering.

Victory in the Spanish Formula 3

Nicolas spent the season 2006 in the Spanish Formula 3 championship, driving for Racing Engineering team and winning one race, at Circuit de Catalunya, to finish fourth in the points. In 2007, he continued to compete in the Spanish Formula 3, moving to the Campos Racing. He won two races, in Valencia and Barcelona, to finish third in the championship.

In 2007, Nico debuted at 24 hours of Le Mans

Le Mans debut in 2007

In June 2007, Nicolas Prost participated for the first time at 24 hours of Le Mans. He was a part of the Team Oreca crew in the #54 Saleen S7-R, together with Jean-Philippe Belloc and Laurent Groppi. They finished 10th overall and 5th in GT1 class.

Euroseries 3000 champion in 2008

The 27-year-old Nicolas reached the peak of his single-seater career in 2008, winning the championship title in the Euroseries 3000. Of sixteen races, he won just once, in Jerez, to take the title with two points gap ahead of Fabio Onidi.

In November 2008, Prost joined Team France in the A1 Grand Prix Series. He participated in four rounds, the other driver was Loic Duval, and they took fifth place in the final standings.

Switch to prototype racing in 2009

In 2009, Nicolas switched to sports car racing and joined Speedy Racing Team Sebah in the Le Mans Series. He was driving the #13 Aston Martin-powered Lola B08/60 LMP1 prototype, alongside Andrea Belicchi and Marcel Fassler. With one podium, at Silverstone, Prost finished 5th in the points. At 24 hours of Le Mans, Neel Jani joined Belicchi and Prost. They finished the race in 14th place.

After winning two titles in the electric class of Andros Trophy, Nico joined his father in Dacia's team

Double champion in the Trophee Andros Electrique

During the 2009–2010 winter, Prost participated to the Trophee Andros ice racing series and became the champion in the category of electric cars. He clinched the title with six wins in 21 races. He successfully defended in the next season (2010–2011). In the 2011-2012 season he joined his father and Dacia's team in the main category.

Nico joined Rebellion Racing in 2010

During 2010, Nicolas had some test with Renault's Formula One car at Magny-Cours, but his main job was in the cockpit of the Rebellion Racing's LMP1 prototype in the Le Mans Series. His co-driver in five races was Neel Jani. With two podiums, Prost finished fifth in the points. At Le Mans 24-hour race, Jani and Prost were partnered by Marco Andretti, but Rebellion's #12 Lola B10/60 didn't reach the finish. Prost also participated in few rounds of the FIA GT1 Championship, driving Matech Competition's Ford GT, but without wins and podiums.

Nico joined Rebellion Racing in 2010. In 2016, he is still part of the team

Third place in the 2011 Le Mans Series

Prost remained Rebellion's driver in 2011, competing in all endurance series (Le Mans Series, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, American Le Mans Series) and, of course, at 24 hours of Le Mans. Finishing third at Circuit Paul Ricard and Estoril, Prost finished third in the final classification of the Le Mans Series. His co-driver was Neel Jani. At Le Mans, they were joined by Jeroen Bleekemolen and finished 6th overall.

Regular driver in the revived World Endurance Championship

In 2012, Rebellion Racing entered the inaugural season of the revived FIA World Endurance Championship and Nicolas was the part of the #12 crew. He was sharing the Toyota-powered LMP1 prototype LolaB12/60 with Neel Jani and Nick Heidfeld. At 24 hours of Le Mans, the trio finished fourth overall, behind three factory Audis and the best among privateers. In the championship, Prost participated in all eight races and finished fourth in the points. In October, the team had a one-off appearance in the American Le Mans Series and took the victory at Petit Le Mans.

During 2012, Prost was the part of the Lotus Renault F1 program and at the end of the season, he participated in the young drivers' test at Abu Dhabi. In 2013 and 2014, he continued to work for Lotus as a development and test driver, but his main job was still in the Rebellion Racing's cars.

Victory at 2013 Petit Le Mans

In the 2013 FIA WEC season, Prost finished sixth in the points after seven races. Partnered by Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche, his best result was third place at Interlagos. At 24 hours of Le Mans, Prost, Jani and Heidfeld had a problematic race and finished 39th overall. The team again recorded one victory in the USA, taking first place at Petit Le Mans.

Heidfeld, Beche and Prost finished 4th at 2014 Le Mans

Best private driver in the World Endurance Championship

In the 2014 FIA WEC season, Prost finished tenth in the overall standings but took the championship trophy for the best driver of private teams. His best place in the overall results was fourth at Silverstone and fourth at Le Mans. Prost, Heidfeld and Beche finished fourth at Le Mans, behind three factory entries of Audi and Toyota.

Prost and Buemi won Teams' title in the inaugural Formula E season

In September 2014, Prost entered the inaugural season of the Formula E championship, as one of two drivers for e.dams Renault team,under the management of his father. The other driver was Sebastien Buemi. Prost was the winner of  one race (Miami ePrix) and finished sixth in the points while Buemi was victorious in three races and lost the championship title just a point behind Nelson Piquet Jr. The e.dams Renault dominantly won Teams' championship title.

Nico Prost is a regular competitor in Formula E

Again double program - FIA WEC and Formula E

Parallel to Formula E championship, Prost entered one more FIA WEC season with Rebellion Racing. In six races, his best result was seventh place at Fuji and Shanghai. At 2015 edition of Le Mans 24-hour race, the #12 Rebellion R-One, driven by Prost, Heidfeld and Beche, finished 23rd overall.

In October 2015, the second season of the Formula E Championship started. Prost and Buemi remained together in the team, which was renamed to Renault e.dams. During the season, Prost's best result was third place at Mexico City ePrix, and then he shined in the season's finale at London's Battersea Park, winning both races. He finished third in the final classification.

Third place in the world in the eighth season with Rebellion Racing

In the 2016 FIA WEC season, his seventh season with Rebellion Racing, Prost participated in four races as a member of the #12 crew together with Nick Heidfeld and Nelson Piquet Jr. At Le Mans, they finished 29th overall and 6th in LMP1 class.

Prost stayed with Rebellion in the 2017 FIA WEC season, when the team switched to the LMP2 class with Oreca 07. He scored podiums at Silverstone and Spa, sharing a car with Bruno Senna and Julien Canal, and then four wins in the second part of the season, finishing third in the Endurance Trophy for LMP2 drivers.

Nicolas Prost

Third championship title with Renault e-dams team

In the 2016-2017 Formula E season, Prost failed to score podiums or wins, finishing sixth in the final drivers' standings. However, he collected valuable points for the team and Renault e.dams captured its third consecutive Formula E title for teams.

In the 2017-2018 Formula E season, both Prost and Buemi stayed with the team. Prost was again without wins or podiums, finishing 8th in the final standings while the team was fifth. For the fifth Formula E season, Nissan replaced Renault as a factory team and Prost left the championship.

He stayed active in the Trophy Andros ice racing and French GT racing.

Photos: nicolas-prost.com, evperformance.co.uk, Getty Images,